Future RHS Shows to be bigger, better and help fund apprentices

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is planning fewer, more spectacular RHS London Flower Shows each year in both of its Horticultural Halls, where there will be more for visitors to see, do and take home than ever before.

In future resources will be consolidated to invest in bigger and better seasonal shows. As well as investing more in show content, the RHS will increase its marketing of these shows to grow visitor numbers. These shows will be ticketed events. Tickets will cost £5 for RHS members and £6 for non-members.

In 2017 the line-up, happening across both the RHS’ Lindley and Lawrence Halls, will be:
RHS Early Spring Plant Fair on 14 and 15 February
RHS Spring Plant and Orchid Show on the 29 and 30 March
RHS Autumn Garden Show on the 25 and 26 October

There will also be 3 smaller RHS Gardening Events in one hall, which members and the public will be able to visit for free:

RHS Botanical Art Show on 24 and 25 February
RHS Summer Urban Garden Show on 12 and 13 July
RHS Harvest Festival Show on 3 and 4 October

In 2018 the RHS will be introducing a new Summer Garden, Art and Photography Show. The RHS London Show line-up in 2018, happening across both Halls, will be:

RHS Early Spring Plant Fair on the 13 and 14 February
RHS Spring Plant and Orchid Show on the 28 and 29 March
RHS Summer Garden, Art and Photography Show on the 11 and 12 July
RHS Autumn Urban Garden Show on the 27 and 28 October

There will also be 1 smaller RHS Gardening Event, which members and the public will be able to visit for free:

RHS Harvest Festival Show on 2 and 3 October

Sue Biggs, RHS Director General, says: “We’ve been holding RHS London Flower Shows since 1904 as part of our charitable purpose to bring gardening into the lives of as many people as possible.

“We’re committed to continuing these very special shows, where some of the UK’s best nurseries create the most beautiful plant displays. The Flower Show season is extremely busy; we think fewer, but bigger and better London Shows in both of our magnificent horticulture halls, will give our visitors a more wonderful experience and engage more of our members, as well as new audiences.

“From 2018 there will always be four of the two hall seasonal shows. The three two hall shows and three one hall shows in 2017 is only interim as we transition into the new format.”

The RHS will continue to pay to put on its’ London Flower Shows, which are not profit making, as part of its’ charitable remit to promote horticulture.

To reflect the enhanced show experience and as part of the RHS’ commitment to grow the next generation of gardeners, from 2017 member tickets will be £5 and non-member tickets will be £6. All funds from these tickets will go towards helping pay for RHS Apprentices, to kick start and enable young people’s careers in horticulture.

Sue Biggs continues: “These prices are extremely reasonable for London based events, which will showcase some of the best garden and garden art displays in the world.

“On top of this funds raised from the tickets will go towards helping support our apprentices develop skills and create experience for a solid foundation for their careers and future. Our apprentices learn on courses; develop skills in our four RHS gardens and at our world famous shows and get the chance to do work experience at leading horticultural organisations.

“There is a critical green skills gap and the RHS’ takes its role and responsibility to grow the next generation of horticulturists extremely seriously; we’re very grateful for the support of our members, funders and partners who enable us to do vast work to support, promote and celebrate great British horticulture.”